SHILLONG: Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain said on Monday the rail project up to Byrnihat will not be scrapped at the moment and it will go ahead.
Speaking to media persons here in Shillong on the sidelines of the launching of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Gohain, however, added that the Centre might be forced to scrap the project if people continue to oppose it.
“We are trying to convince the people of Meghalaya that the railway project will not harm them but will help Meghalaya by way of connecting Shillong to the entire country,” he said.
Gohain also asked the State Government to take interest and tackle the local problems pertaining to the railway. “It is the duty of the State Government to tackle the local problems,” he said.
According to Gohain, the Railway Ministry is having frequent discussions with the State Government on how to connect Shillong with railways.
Asked if the railway project would destroy the scenic beauty of Shillong, Gohain said even Switzerland and Russia have railways.
“Compare your beauty to Switzerland and Russia and railways will never damage the scenic beauty but will add to the scenery of Meghalaya,” he said and asked if railways destroyed the scenic beauty of Darjeeling.
The minister further added that with railways, tourism will get a fillip besides generating employment for several people since everyone in the country knows about Shillong but they cannot afford to come here by air.
While suspecting that the truckers’ body may be behind the opposition to the railways, Gohain said officers in the Ministry of Railways will hold discussions with the pressure groups who are protesting in Meghalaya.
